Actor Om Puri insults the martyrdom of soldiers. Veteran actor Om Puri has come out in support of Pakistani actors, saying art and politics should be kept separate and banning the artistes will not change the situation. Puri said Pakistani artistes are not working illegally here and if they are sent back, Indian producers, who have signed them for their films, will suffer heavy losses.
'When the government is taking an action, we all should stay quiet. It hardly matters if we send back the artists from Pakistan, who are working here, or let them stay. I have been to Pakistan six times and have met people from all strata,' the 65-year-old actor said here.
'I have always received love and warmth. If the Pakistani actors leave the projects they are doing here in middle, then people in India (filmmakers) will also face financial loss. Hence, this is insignificant. The actors have not come here through any illegal way. They have valid visa. But, if the government will ask them to leave, then it is different,' he said. Later while on a live debate on IBN7, he insensitively spoke about Indian martyrs saying, “We haven’t forced them to join the army.'.